Eye-testing machine.



J. SAVOIE.

' EYE TESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1910.

988,036. Patented Mar-28,1911.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

WITNESSES. I lNVEINTOFh J. sAvoI-E.

EYE TESTING MACHINE. I APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 12; 1910. 988,036.Patented M21128, 1911.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES! I INVENfQR.

ETERS co., WASHINGTON. L. c.

JOSEPH SAVOIE, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

EYE-TESTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

Application filed September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,531.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SAVOIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Eye-TestingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in eyetesting machines, and the object of the invention is to provide amachine of this type which embodies means for permitting of convenient,ready and instant manipulation of the sets of glasses during the testingoperation, and further to support the individual glasses which comprisethe sets, so that the latter can be removed and replaced or otherwisechanged with ease and rapidity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact andinexpensive apparatus of this character which is efficient in use and ofneat and artistic appearance.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, and Fig.2 is an end elevation thereof.

The invention comprises a base which latter includes a central member orbody 1 and four legs, the side legs being designated 2 in the drawingsand the end legs being designated 3. The legs are secured at one end tothe central body 1 and at their opposite ends are curved downwardly andprovided with the feet 4. The central body 1 is formed with an upwardextension 5 to which is rigidly secured a horizontal transverse bar 6,the latter having rigidly secured to each of its ends a pair of spacedparallel rods 7 which are curved at their tops in the form of an arc andhave the extremities of their curved ends spaced apart as at 8. The rods7 are disposed on opposite sides of a pair of uprights 9, the rods 7being spaced from the opposite sides of the uprights 9 and the uprightsbeing connected at their top portions by a cross piece 10 which forms ahandle whereby the device may be conveniently moved or transported. Apair of oppositely disposed and downwardly inclined tables or platforms11 are provided one on each side of the machine, these tables orplatforms having their inner ends formed with perforated portions toreceive the rods 7, and having their outer end portions seating on thecurved portions of the legs 2, whereby the tables or platforms are heldin the positions set forth. On the platforms 11 the testing glasses andtheir holders rest, or are supported.

The eye glasses are designated 12 in the drawings, and are suitablysupported at their ends by U-shaped holders 13, the cross bars 1 1 ofwhich holders 13 are of such size as to be readily admitted in theopenings 8 between the curved extremities of the rods 7 whereby it willbe seen that by moving the holders up to a position where the cross bars14 thereof register with the spaces 8, the holders may be removed forany desired purpose. It will further be seen that the cross bar 1 1operates in the space between the uprights 9 and the rods 7, and thatthe holders may be moved vertically and also upwardly around the crosspiece 10 of the uprights 9, and then downwardly on the opposite sides ofthe uprights, to rest on the opposite platform or table, the sidemembers 15 of the holders 13 engaging on the outer sides of the rods 7,as shown in Fig. 2, thereby preventing any lateral movement of theholders with respect to the machine.

The mode of operation of the machine is as follows: As usual a readingcard is placed at a predetermined distance fronithe machine, the cardbeing of the type commonly used by Opticians, upon which is printed invarious sizes of type, words or figures. The person having his eyestested lifts one of the holders containing a pair of test glasses up toa perpendicular position, parallel with the uprights 9 and thereupontests the reading quality of the glass and continues to do so until theholder having the desired glass is reached.

The glasses can be numbered so as to indicate to the Optician thequality and power of the glass or any suitable tag or identifying mediummay be attached to the holder if desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In an eye testing machine, a base consisting of acentral member, a pair of curved side legs secured to the member and apair of curved end legs also secured to the member, a horizontal rodcarried by said member at the upper end of the latter, an uprightsecured to each end of said rod, a pair of vertical rods secured to saidhorizontal rod at each end thereof and disposed in spaced relation tothe respective uprights,

each pair of rods having their upper ends curved in the term of an arcand extending toward one another, their free extremities being spacedapart, a cross piece connecting the upper ends of the uprights, a tableon each side of the machine, each table having its inner end perforatedto receive the rods on that side of the machine and having its outer endresting on the curved portions of the legs, and a series of U-shapedglass carriers having riieir sides extending on the outer sides of therods and their connecting portions operating between the uprights andthe rods.

2. In an eye testing machine, a base, a pair oi uprights at the sides ofthe machine, a pair of rods arranged in spaced relation on oppositesides of each upright, said rods having their upper ends curved toextend above the tops of the uprights and having their extremitiesspaced apart, eyeglass holders of U-shape having their connecting barsdisposed in the spaces between the rods and the uprights, and means onopposite sides of the base to provide supports for the holders.

3. In an eye testing machine, a pair of oppositely-disposed supportingelements, a series 01" eyeglass holders, and means between the elementsto guide the holders in their movement from one support to the other.

l. In an eye testing machine, a pair of oppositely-disposed supportingelements, a

series of eyeglass holders, and means to permit the holders to be movedfrom one of the elements to the other, and to allow the holders tooccupy vertical positions.

5. In an eye testing machine, a support, a pair of spaced uprights,guiding means on each side of each upright in spaced relation thereto,and holders for eyeglasses having portions operating in said spaces;

6. In an eye testing machine, a pair of tables and guiding meansarranged between the tables, a series of eyeglass holders, the guidingmeans being formed with oppositely disposed vertical slots connected byan areshaped slot, the holders being received in said slots.

7. In an eye testing machine, a pair of tables, guiding means arrangedbetween the same, a series of eyeglass holders, said guiding means beingformed with a pair of spaced vertical slots connected at their outerends by a curved slot, the latter having an opening which leads into thecurved slot, the holders operating in said slots and being removablethrough said opening.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH SAVOIE. Witnesses ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

